Why American Gun Control Won't Happen

Whilst I think many people will question American gun laws in the light of recent outrages, I want to examine why it’s not a total call for changes. With so many people dying, it seems to those outside the states that a change should be obvious, that assault weapons should be banned and general gun sales limited. In America it appears though that excuses are made for each atrocity and that little attempt is made to change the laws. The N.R.A seems to have control over to many aspects of the attempts to change the laws and their influence seems to hold sway over people’s opinion.

While I don’t believe that tv and films makes people turn to violence, I think it’s possible that there could be a complacency towards guns and their prevalence in daily life. From rap stars through to tv characters, guns are part of the lifestyle and the image. The presence of a gun is almost normalized, to the point it's strange in some cases not to have a gun.

Another problem, I think, is that the actual lack of violence in some tv and film could be a problem. The gunman shoots someone, they bleed a tiny bit, then fall over. The shot appears easy, the noise and kickback minimal and the damage to the victim minor. This obviously allows the images to be shown to more of an audience but allows them to be desensitized. It’s like the cartoon character being run over by a steam roller and getting up after; it makes a good show, but lacks too much reality.

Obviously selective news reports don’t make the image of gun control any better, especially abroad. Reports that the way to prevent school shootings was to arm teachers for example is bizarre, similar to the calls to ban nationals from certain countries in case they are terrorists. Something needs to be done to save lives, though it seems to look everywhere else to find something.

If guns aren’t going to be banned, then perhaps gun laws need changing at the very least. Also, they may need to be made uniform country wide rather than the variations between states. States with open carry policies need to consider the effect they have by allowing guns on show. Again, this can normalize guns in everyday life. If they are seen as something that takes effort to obtain, they may lose some attraction.

If guns were severely limited to all, if the access to buying them was longer, and the restrictions tougher, then this could help also. Banning anyone with a preexisting mental health condition that could make them prone to use guns or commit violence would be a start. Also limiting where they could be bought would be a start. Shops with a minimum age to enter and to buy would make guns less attractive. Once kids see them on sale and people openly carrying them, they will want their own weapons to be like everyone else.

There is unlikely to be gun control to any extent soon unless there is a massive change in the American mindset. This would need to change from grass roots through to government at the highest level. Outside the mindset created by tv and media in general, there is the worry of attack from criminals through to terrorists. This gives gun makers the chance to promote their wares and to make them more attractive. This means the restriction of sales would cause financial problems for these companies, unfortunately business interests often trump other considerations.

Murder rates are massive and will remain the same, the recent attacks will remain upsetting but not surprising. The news becomes normal and expected, a church massacre should be shocking but if in America it unfortunately isn’t. I hope for change; many others want change but we will live in hope rather than expectation of any.